I'm in Love With Your Wife: Putting the Spice in Spouse

I'm in Love With Your Wife, Alex Goldberg's new screwball comedy about marital infidelity, is very very funny.  Add to that script a talented cast and great director, and you have a hit on your hands.  In writing this review, I may have to resort to a thesaurus to find non-repetitive synonyms for "funny".

The play concerns Gary (Ean Sheehy), a schlub of a fellow who gets no respect from anyone.  His wife won't put up with his inept sweet nothings, his administrative assistant (the priceless Monica Yudovich) spends hours at Starbucks and regales him with stories of her amorous encounters instead of working...  And then his philandering best friend Paul (the hilariously sexy Shane Jacobsen) comes in and drops a bomb- he's in love with Gary's wife.  When Gary tries to tell Paul's wife Gail (the blithely jocund Katie Kreisler) about the affair, he discovers even more jaw-dropping secrets about just who is sleeping with whom.  And no one but Gary thinks they should cancel Gary's dinner party, which all of them plan to attend.

And then Gary's therapist comes into the mix.  As Dr. Feldburg, Ron Palillo is a treasure.  His whimiscal mannerisms and dime-turn moments are perfect for the character.  Dr. Feldburg doesn't believe Gary's wild (but true) stories, so Gary invites him to the dinner party.  Needing a date, the doctor seizes on one of his patients, a young actress named Ruth (the fiendishly droll Marion Wood), who insists on coming to the party as a character she's been developing.  

More I will not say, for fear of spoiling the fun, but I can't say enough about this loony, wonderful, and verbally dextrous cast, all of whom plunge with gusto into these gelastically meaty roles, and support each other brilliantly; an especial nod goes to Mr. Sheehy, who, as the straight man to this pack of fools, still manages to make a favorable impression of his own.

Alex Goldberg's script is witty, brilliantly observed, and is reminiscent of the best of Durang:  I'm in Love With Your Wife should have a bigger life outside the confines of the festival- it certainly deserves it.  Director Tom Wojtunik brings the best out of his actors and never lets the pace flag for a moment.  Even scene changes are accomplished with genius aplomb, with insightfully and comedically choreographed dance by Ryan Kasprzak

I laughed till my sides ached.  There's only 5 more performances of this production (in the Midtown International Theatre Festival), so go see it if you can get tickets (opening night was nearly sold out already).

Changuitos Productions will present Alex Goldberg's comedy I'm In Love With Your Wife as part of the 2007 Midtown International Theater Festival (MITF)July 16 – August 5.  

WorkShop Theatre Jewel Box

312 W. 36th St. 4th Floor 

For tickets call Smart Tix at (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com. 

Running time is 85 minutes with no intermission.

Show times for I'm In Love With Your Wife are as follows:

Tuesday, July 17th at 8:30pm  

Friday, July 20th at 6pm         

Sunday, July 22nd at 8:45pm                             

Wednesday, July 25th at 5:45pm

Saturday, July 28th at 3pm

Friday, August 3rd at 8pm

 Photos:

1. (Clockwise from Left) Ruth (Marion Wood), Gary (Ean Sheehy), Dr. Feldberg (Ron Palillo), Gail (Katie Kreisler), Bethany (Monica Yudovich) and Paul (Shane Jacobsen)

2. (Clockwise from Left) Ruth (Marion Wood), Gary (Ean Sheehy), Dr. Feldberg (Ron Palillo), Gail (Katie Kreisler), Bethany (Monica Yudovich) and Paul (Shane Jacobsen)

3. (L-R) Gail (Katie Kreisler), Dr. Feldberg (Ron Palillo), Gary (Ean Sheehy), Ruth (Marion Wood), Paul (Shane Jacobsen) and Bethany (Monica Yudovich)